Nissan Dualis+2, 7-Seat Wagon For Style-Aware Families (Australia)

On the crest of an all-new DUALIS design, Nissan Australia announces the arrival of a 7-seat family wagon version, dubbed DUALIS +2.

Based on the innovative DUALIS hatch concept, the DUALIS +2 makes its showroom debut next week.

Nissan moved the goalposts again, introducing the stylish family crossover, the DUALIS+2, with more space and a flexible seven-seat configuration and adding even more strongly to the appeal of the new DUALIS range.

DUALIS+2 combines the best of both three-row people movers and the family hatchback with none of the drawbacks. So it enjoys the driving dynamics, ride comfort and refinement of a finely tuned hatchback with the added benefit of the practical interior of a bigger car. But what it has that MPVs and hatchbacks don’t have is a striking, attractive exterior and interior design. At the same time previous compact SUV customers will appreciate the third row of seats.

The SUV-influenced styling, ‘command’ seating position and genuine driving enjoyment are all carried over from the standard DUALIS, but the greater length is aimed squarely at busy families seeking practicality without sacrificing style.

DUALIS+2 joins the original five-seat DUALIS and the exciting all-new Murano to cement the company’s status as the ‘Crossover Brand’.

DUALIS+2 will be available in ST and Ti variants equipped with a CVT transmission.

A little longer and higher than the 5-seater DUALIS, DUALIS+2 is priced from $29,990 (for the ST 2WD) to $36,890 (for the AWD Ti model).

Design DNA

Although sharing clear family design DNA with its sibling, DUALIS+2 is nonetheless subtly different from virtually every angle. Created by designers at Nissan Design Europe in London’s Paddington, the new model is essentially identical to DUALIS from the A-pillar forward… but everything else behind has been changed.

Longer and taller, DUALIS+2 has been designed to provide greater interior space and more practicality. External changes include new front and rear doors, side glass, a new tailgate and new-look grille.

Panoramic Roof

Like its 5 seat sibling, DUALIS+2 Ti models come with a huge fixed panoramic glass roof that opens up the cabin to create a sense of airiness – if the sun becomes too intense, then a sunshade will glide into place at the touch of a button.

A 135 mm extended wheelbase and a 211 mm increase in length bring added space for larger families and the ingenious third row of seats can be used by children or for occasional use by adults. Their reclining backrests – with seven adjustment settings – will fold completely flat without the need to remove the head restraints first, opening up the luggage space to give 550 litres (VDA), an increase of 140 over DUALIS.

The standard full-depth roller-blind tonneau cover can be stored beneath the boot floor when the third row seats are being used, while the under-floor storage lid can double up as a cargo divider if you need to keep fragile items separated from heavier objects.

Second row passengers enjoy increased kneeroom and the 40/20/40 split backrest reclines over a range of 15 degrees. Added versatility is provided by the centre ‘20’ portion which can be folded forward to act as a large multi-function armrest, complete with two cup holders, a lidded storage box large enough to hold personal music players and a power outlet.

The whole second row seat now slides (in a 60/40 split) fore and aft to improve ingress and egress, whilst also offering the added benefit of more second row seat legroom or conversely more cargo area.

Mechanically, DUALIS+2 follows the lead set by the original model with strut-type front suspension and a fully independent multi-link rear set-up.

Suspension settings have been revised to take account of the extra weight and payload potential, while steering assistance has also been re-tuned.

Chassis and Transmission

Two versions of the chassis are available, offering the choice of front-wheel drive (ST and Ti) or sure-footed ALL-MODE 4X4 (in Ti only). DUALIS+2 is powered by the familiar, lightweight all-alloy MR20 2.0 litre engine.

The DUALIS+2 comes standard with the highly efficient, fuel-saving CVT auto transmission, offering a choice between ‘stepless’ changes or a manual over-ride with six fixed ratios.

The new DUALIS+2 ST is well-equipped featuring power windows with driver’s one touch operation, air conditioning, a drive computer, steering wheel mounted Bluetooth® handsfree phone, audio and cruise controls, plus a four speaker CD audio system with MP3 connectivity.

A full safety package mirroring that of the five-star ANCAP rated five-seat DUALIS includes VDC, six airbags plus front seat active headrests and seatbelt pretensioners.

Designed for children or adults up to approximately 1.6m tall, the angle of the backrest has seven adjustment settings and can be folded completely flat to increase luggage space. The seats split on a 50/50 basis and each can be folded away simply by pulling on a single strap: there is no need to remove head restraints first.

When folded away, there’s a large flat loading area left behind which provides 550 litres of potential luggage capacity, an increase of 140 litres over 5-seat DUALIS.